“The defendant entered the shops taking items, meat or jars of coffee, and has been able to take these by making no attempt to pay.”

Shops targeted by Regan were Slaithwaite Co-op on Lewisham Road, Golcar Co-op in Town End, Birchencliffe Fuel Station and Convenience Store, Crosland Moor Co-op based at the Moorfield Shopping Centre, and Colne Valley Service Station in Manchester Road, Milnsbridge.

Mr Wills said: “He was challenged by a member of staff and the goods were recovered.

“However, he entered again later and decided to chance his arm by taking £50 worth of coffee from the store and making good his escape.”

Regan was not stopped at the time but was later identified by staff who viewed the store’s CCTV footage and recognised him.

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He was arrested and tested positive for the misuse of cocaine and opiates.

In total he took £530 worth of products from the stores which were not recovered.

Magistrates heard that he had 66 offences on his record, 24 of which were theft related.

His latest raft of offending was committed while he was on licence after being released from custody.

Crosland Moor Co-op based at Moorfield Shopping Centre

Rachel Sharpe, mitigating, said: “He’s been using drugs for three years, he’s not getting any help and has been using both heroin and crack cocaine.

“When he wakes up in the morning he’s unable to face the day unless he’s using drugs.”

Magistrates jailed Regan for a total of 28 weeks for his “serious and persistent” offending.